Pay by QR in Argentina with Peanut
Skip foreign card transaction fees. Pay at supported Mercado Pago merchant QR codes from your Peanut balance.
Peanut lets you hold digital dollars and pay in pesos at supported Mercado Pago merchant QR codes in Argentina. Verify with an accepted passport or ID, add funds through an available route, and review the exchange quote before each purchase.
Card fees and exchange rates vary. The quote in Peanut shows the local purchase amount and the amount deducted from your balance, so you can check the cost before paying.
Get ready to pay
Start using Peanut in Argentina
- 1
Verify your account
Create a Peanut account and complete the verification required for QR payments. An accepted passport can be used.
- 2
Add funds
Use a bank route available to your verified account or a supported digital-currency deposit. For a network deposit, match the currency, network and address at both ends.
- 3
Scan the merchant QR
At checkout, open Pay in Peanut and scan the merchant's supported Mercado Pago QR code.
- 4
Review and confirm
Check the merchant, peso amount, exchange rate and debit from your balance. Confirm when the details match your purchase.
The Mercado Pago QR guide walks through the payment screen and result. Support is for merchant payments; a person-to-person QR or a code from another payment system is not automatically supported.
Passport access and local bank transfers
Travelers can verify for supported QR payments with a passport, without opening an Argentine bank account. You pay from Peanut; you do not need to create a separate Mercado Pago account for this flow.
Local ARS bank deposits and withdrawals have different requirements: Argentine residence, the relevant tax ID and verification. A local bank withdrawal goes to your own eligible account. A passport-based QR verification does not by itself unlock these bank functions. See the verification guide for the distinction.
Exchange rates and funding costs
The cripto dólar rate applies to the supported QR payment through the all-in quote shown before confirmation. There is no separate flat Peanut fee for that QR payment. Currency-conversion costs are included in the quote; the number of pesos you receive per dollar changes with the rate.
Funding has its own conditions. A sending bank or exchange may charge, and EUR bank deposits involve a currency conversion. Digital-dollar withdrawal costs vary by destination network. Review the route and current pricing before adding or withdrawing money.
Stories from people in Argentina
These are experiences recorded in March 2026, rather than promises about every payment today.
- Cat, an Irish professional living in Buenos Aires, described using Peanut for everyday merchant payments, including a visit to the dentist.
- Kamila, an English freelancer in Buenos Aires, described adding money from freelance work and using it for local QR spending.
- Mei Lin, a remote UX designer, started with a 20 USDC QR-payment test in Buenos Aires and later used Peanut in São Paulo.
FAQ
Do I need an Argentine bank account for QR payments?
No. Verify your Peanut account with an accepted document and fund the available balance. Local ARS bank functions have separate residence and tax-ID requirements.
Does every Mercado Pago QR work?
No. Peanut supports compatible merchant QR codes. Check the payee and purchase details in the app; do not assume a personal QR or another network's code will work.
Can I check the exchange rate before paying?
Yes. Review the peso amount, exchange quote and amount deducted from your balance before confirmation.
Can I use a balance funded outside Argentina?
Yes, through a deposit method available to your account. Bank eligibility follows verified residence and account status. For a supported-network deposit, the currency and network must match.
Where do I check my payment limit?
Check the limit shown for your verified account before a large purchase. Limits differ between QR access and locally verified bank functions.
Verify, add funds and check the quote before your first merchant QR payment.